Disposable display stand



Jan. 25, 1966 R. .1. HODSON DISPOSABLE DISPLAY STAND Filed Aug. 17, 1964FIG-7 INVENTOR. P/amea J. #0050 United States Patent 3,231,097DISPOSABLE DISPLAY STAND Richard J. Hodson, Deming, N. Mex., assignor toAuburn Rubber Company, Inc, Deming, N. Mex., a corporation of New MexicoFiled Aug. 17, 1964, Ser. No. 33?,897 9 Claims. (Cl. 211-59) The presentinvention relates to a disposable tower or stand for carrying sale itemssuch as toys, both during shipping and subsequent display for sale ofthe items carried.

It is common in the sale of many items, such as toys, for some type ofpermanent display stand, or the like, to be utilized, and in thisconnection a wide variety of items are now displayed and sold indisposable plastic bags. These bagged items are commonly provided with asemirigid top, as in the form of light cardboard for identifying theidentity, origin and price of the item, and by this portion of the bag,are commonly mounted on hooks, or the like, for display in stores. Withthe advent of bagging, it has become possible to materially improve themerchandising of many types of goods, and to extend the range oflocations in which same may be displayed for sale. Thus, for example,supermarkets now often display for sale a Wide range of toys, which arereadily viewed by prospective purchasers through the transparent plasticbags in which they are originally wrapped.

In order that clerks in stores such as supermarkets, or the like, neednot spend an excessive amount of time in the sorting, handling, pricing,and the like of bagged items, it is commonplace for sales companies toinstall permanent stands of metal, or the like, in the store and toprovide the service of refilling these stands from trucks which serviceroutes including a large number of the stands. It is not only the typeof product packaging which makes it possible for items of this sort tobe sold in markets which do not specialize in that type of item, butalso the service which is provided in replacing sold items, so that thestore manager need not concern himself or expend an undue amount of timein filling the stands or re-ordering items sold therefrom. There aremany advantages to this type of merchandising, but also there arecertain disadvantages attendant thereto. For example, store owners andmanagers are entirely dependent upon service companies which install andrefill the display stands and, of course, the cost of this service mustbe deducted from the pos sible profit available to the retailer. Variousother disadvantages are well known to those familiar to this field ofmerchandising.

The present invention provides a display stand or tower carrying baggeditems and having such a low cost that the display stand is trulydisposable. The particular structure of the display stand of thisinvention affords a high degree of rigid support for items carriedthereon, and furthermore, is completely stable so as to be free standingwithout any problems of tipping or upsetting in a store. While thedisplay stand hereof carries all items thereon in full view ofprospective purchasers, the stand also provides suflicient protectionfor the items that the stand and items can be shipped together with thesale items mounted on the stand. Thus no personnel at the retail outletneed handle any sale items carried by the stand. Consequently, the standitself comprises a carrier for the items during shipping, and maintainsthe desired segregation of the items and placement of same in the exactposition in which they are displayed for sale. Furthermore, the displaystand of this invention is telescoping, in that a portion of the standmay be raised into permanently extended vertical position for displayingadvertising matter pertaining to the items carried by the stand.Extremely simple telescoping action allows the clerk of the retail3,231,097 Patented Jan. 25, 1966 outlet to easily extend a top portionof the stand-into permanently extended position.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention, together with certainalternative structures thereof, is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an expanded perspective view of the display stand hereofshowing only one segment of the stand carrying items for display;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of a sheet of material such as corrugatedcardboard, which is employed in folded condition as one of the panels ofthe display stand;

FIGURE 3 is a partial sectional view taken in the horizontal plane 33 ofFIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a partial sectional view of the lower lefthand corner of thedisplay stand taken in the plane 4-4 of FIGURE 1 and showing the joinderof panels;

FIGURE 5 is an illustration of the same portion of the stand as FIGURE4, but showing an alternative embodi ment;

FIGURE 6 is a showing of the same portion of the stand as FIGURE 4, butillustrating yet another embodiment;

FIGURE 7 is a plan view of a sheet of material which is adapted to befolded into the telescoping top of the stand;

FIGURE 8 is a partial vertical cross-sectional detail of a portion ofthe display stand wall taken in the plane 8-8 of FIGURE 1 and showingthe mounting of the telescop ing top in extended position and a mountingbracket on the stand. Considering now a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, and referring to the drawings, there is shown inFIGURE 1 a perspective View of a display stand in accordance with theinvention, and including an upright display unit '11 having an upwardlyextending telescoping unit 12 above same.

as fiat sheets, such as illustrated in FIGURE 2. Each of the panels isformed of a lightweight, inexpensive sheet material having a substantialrigidity, such as corrugated cardboard, illustrated in FIGURE 2. Inemploying corrugated cardboard for the panels, the corrugations aredisposed laterally of the panels so thatmaximum vertical strength isimparted to the resultant unit.

As shown in FIGURE 2, a panel 13 is formed as a,

rectangle having a dimension, for example, of about two and one-halffeet wide by five feet high. A vertical fold line 21 is formed as byscoring the sheet of material longi; tudinally thereof and inward ashort distance from one lateral edge to thereby define a major panelportion 22 and an edge wall portion 23, as indicated. An additional foldline is provided transversely across the sheet displaced from the bottomthe same distance that the vertical fold line 21 is displaced from thelateral edge of the sheet. This transverse fold line 24, which may beformed by scoring, perforation, or the like, defines a floor or standportion 26, which is adapted to be folded upwardly along the line 24into perpendicular relationship with the main panel portion 22. Insofaras the lower left-hand corner of the sheet is concerned, there areformed either fold lines or cuts, depending upon the particular mannerin which the separate panels of the invention are to be joined, and thusa line 27, which is an extension of the fold line 21, extends across oneend of the floor portion 26 and may either be a perforation or a cut. Anadditional line 28 extends laterally across the edge wall portion 23 asan extension of the fold line 24, and may, likewise, be either a foldline or a out. In the instance wherein the two lines 27 and 28 are cuts,it will be seen that a small square portion 29 of the sheet is removed.

In assembly of four panels to form the stand of the present invention,each of the panels has the vertical edge The upright display unit isformed of four identical panels 13, 14, 15 and 16, Which originate,

3 wall, such as 23 of panel 13, folded outwardly to lie at a right angleto the main panel portion, such as 22, and also has the bottom or floorportion, such as 2-6 of panel 13, folded outwardly to lie at a rightangle to the main panel portion and side wall portion. With the cornersquare, such as 29 of panel 13, removed from each of the panels,assembly is simply accomplished by firmly joining the edge wall 23 ofpanel 13 to the back of adjacent panel 14. This, then, disposes the mainportions of panels 13 and 14 in'perpendicular relationship. The verticaledge wall of the panel 14 is then secured to the back of the adjacentpanel 15. Panels 15 and 16 are similarly joined together, and 16 isjoined. to 13 to thereby form a unit having a central void of squarecross-section and a generally square overall cross-sectionalconfiguration.

Joinder of adjacent panels may be advantageously accomplished byutilization of large staples, as schematically illustrated at 31. It is,of course, also possible to join the separate panels together byadhesives, if desired. The bottom portion 26 of panel 13 is foldedoutwardly perpendicular to the remainder of the panel, and thebottomportions of the other panels are likewise folded outwardly.

Various alternatives are possible in the manner of forming theabove-described corner portions of the stand, and some of thesealternatives are shown in FIGURES 4, and 6. Instead of removing thecorner square portion 29 of the'panel 13, a cut is made only along thefold line 28, as shown in FIGURE 2. This, then, leaves the cornerportion 29 attached to the floor 26 of the'panel 13 and makes itpossible for this corner portion to be stapled or otherwise attached tothe floor of the adjacent panel 14. In FIGURE 4, there is illustratedone manner of joinder wherein the corner square 29 is folded upwardlywith the floor portion 26 to extend beneath adjac'ent panel 14, and issecured thereto by staples 31, to thereby additionally strengthen thebottom portion of the display'stand. In this illustrated configuration,the bottom portion or floor of each panel is prevented from additionaland undesirable movement or folding because it is secured to the cornertab 29 of the adjacent panel.

In addition to the possible configuration illustrated in FIGURE "4, itis also to be appreciated that the corner tab 29 may be out free fromthe floor 26 along the line, 27 and folded withthe edge wall. In theembodiment of FIGURE 5, the fold line 28 is scored on the back face ofthe panel 13. This figure illustrates the resultant structure whereinthe tab 29 is folded outwardly beneath the floor portion of the adjacentpanel 14 and is joined thereto as by means of staples 31. V

e A further alternative attachment of adjacent panels is illustrated inFIGURE 6. In this instance, the panel 13 has a cut made along theline 27so that the tab depends from the edge wall. Joinder of adjacent panelsis herein accomplished by folding the edge wall 23 and floor portion 26into right angle relationships with the main panel portion 22. The tab29 is folded up beneath the floorv portion 26 and is secured thereto asby staples 31. The next adjacent panel 14 is then placed in alignedabutting relationship with the edge wall 23 of the panel 13, and isstapled to the edge wall of panel 13. This configuration also serves tofirmly lock together the lower portions of floor elements for the standfor increased rigidity of the overall display stand and prevention ofinadvertent movement of these floor portions thereof.

Considering the general configuration of the display stand hereofsomewhat further, it will be appreciated that the stand has a generallyrectangular configuration from the top. A central rectangular opening isdisposed through the center of the stand, and individual display panelsare provided on the four exterior sides to hang merchandise for sale.The edge wall 23 of panel 13 and like portions of the other panelsextend outwardly from thecentral rectangle of the stand to thus provideadded lateral sta i y of the s a d. Furthermore, the generally L-shapedarea in plan view, within which individual items I are mounted upon eachpanel, serves to inset these items from the extreme periphery of thestand Without in any way decreasing the accessability of the items forviewing or sale. A certain measure of protection for the items is,however, afforded by this structure, and this is particularly importantwith respect to the shipping of the display stand loaded with items.Some type of external wrapping or carton is disposed about the entirestand having all panels thereof filled with items for display and sale.The exterior cover or carton (not shown) has the interior crosssectionalarea equal in size and shape to the bottom area of the display standand, consequently, the volumes within which the display items aremounted on the four panels of the stand are protected so that the itemsare not physically engaged by the surrounding carton. "Internal rigidity to the carton is afforded by engagement of the vertical edgewallsofthe display stand with'the interior surfaces of the surroundingcarton.

The telescoping top portion 12, which may be provided with the standhereof, has a rectangular configuration and fits within the centralopening of the stand. This telescoping portion 12 need not have a topcover, unless desired, but does include four walls 41, 42, 43 and 44forming a square, and may be joined together by folding'an edge 46 ofthe wall 44- inside the adjacent edge 41 and, stapling same togetheralong this edge. A sheet 47 of corrugated cardboard or the like, asshown in FIGURE 7, is folded at lines 4-8 to form the top portion 12. Inshipment, the top portion 12 is telescoped into the lower portion ofthe; stand by sliding the unit 12 downwardly into'the stand.

A slip-fit is provided between the telescoping top por tion and theinterior surface of the display panels of the stand, and provision'ismade for maintaining the top unit 12 in upwardly extending position uponset up of the stand for sale and display of items carried thereby. Thesemeans may include small tabs 51 formed in the panels of the displaystand on a horizontal line around thepe-r riphery thereof, slightlybelow the top of the panels. As illustrated in FIGURE 2, these tabs maybe formed by a cut as in the form of a semicircle with a fold lineacross the lower edge of the cut, so that a person may push the tabinwardly through the panel by pressing upon the tab. These tabs remainaffixed to the panel and turn inwardly about the fold line,,asillustrated in FIGURE 8, so that the top unit 12may be lowered upon thetabs and thereby restrained from telescoping back inside the displaystand. It will thus be seen that a plurality of these tabs 51 extendinwardly beneath the top unit 12 so that the unit is held in extended,position. The top unit is not adapted to carry items for sale, butinstead, carries advertising material printed on the external surfacethereof. ornamental improvement to the display stand, thetop of thetelescoping unit 12 may be formed in any of a wide variety ofconfigurations, such as cut-outs of toys, a cutout of a castlesilhouette, or various other possible shapes.

With regardto the mounting of items upon the display stand, there arepreferably, employed a plurality of hooks 56 formed of substantiallyrigid material and mounted upon each of the panels of the stand.Although a variety of different hook configurations are possible, theillustratedhook 56 includes an elongated bar 57 having a slightlyupturned front end, and a pair of L-shaped projections 58 extendingupwardly from opposite ends of'a transverse member across the back endofthe bar. The hook 56 also includes a depending brace 59 adjacent therear end of the bar 57 and having a pointed rearward extension, asillustrated in FIGURE 8. The mounting; hooks are adapted to be securedto the panel through pairs. of openings 61 formed in the panels, asindicated, for example, in FIGURE 1.

Upon assembly of the display stand by stapling orotherwise joiningtogether the .four panels 13 to 16. thereof, the hooks are inserted bypushing the two hook ext nsions 58 of each hook through a pair otholes61 As an in the panel, and then rotating the hook downwardly until thebar 57 thereof extends perpendicularly outward from the panel. In thisposition, the depending brace 59 has the bottom rearward point thereofresting against the exterior surface of the panel, so that pressuredownwardly on the hook bar to bring it into horizontal position forcesthe bracket point into the panel to thereby lock the hook in position.

Following placement of the hooks upon each panel of the display stand,the stand is then loaded with display items by placing them upon thehooks. A group of display items is schematically illustrated in FIGURE 1as comprising plastic bags 71 enclosing items for sale, and having asemirigid top portion 72 of light cardboard, or the like. Holes throughthis bag top 72 allow the bags to be hung upon the hooks, as shown inFIGURE 1. The weight of the bags necessarily holds the hooks downwardlyin firmly anchored position upon the panels. Although there are shownonly two rows of items on the panel 13 in FIGURE 1, such is not to betaken as limiting, for in actuality a relatively large number of baggeditems may be mounted upon each panel of the display stand.

It is further noted with regard to the hooks for mounting of displayitems on the stand of this invention, that the upward projections 58 ofeach hook will tend to embed themselves somewhat in the corrugatedcardboard, or the like, of the panel upon which they are mounted. Thisis not considered undesirable, and does, in fact, further lock the hooksin position. Additionally, it is noted that the amount of clearanceprovided between the telescopic top 12 and the interior opening of thebottom portion of the display stand shall be made sufficient that thetop 12 slides fully into the stand, past the hook projections 58. It mayalso be desirable to provide a second row of tabs similar to those shownin 51, in order to limit the maximum depth of telescoping of the topinto the bottom. For ease of raising the top, it is preferable that samebe maintained in position to be readily reached by a person, rather thanresting entirely at the bottom of the stand, and consequently additionaltabs 51 may be disposed about the lower portion. of the stand, at adistance below the top thereof substantially equal to the height of thetop telescoping portion 12. These lower tabs 51 would then be pressedinwardly of the panels at the time the top portion is inserted, andprior to shipping of the overall unit.

Considering now the utilization of the present invention, there is firstconstructed the top and bottom portions of the stand, in the mannerdescribed above by cutting sheets of semirigid material, such ascorrugated cardboard, into the shapes illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 7,cutting tabs 51 in the panels and punching holes 61 therein. The sheetsare then folded and joined together as by staples 31 to form thephysical structure illustrated in FIGURE 1. Hooks 57 are inserted in thepairs of holes 61, and bagged items 71 are hung upon these books. Thetop portion 12, which may have advertising sales material printed uponthe exterior surface thereof before assembly, is telescoped into thebottom main portion 11 of the stand. Prior to this telescoping of thetop into the bottom, the lower tabs 51 may be pressed inwardly to limitthe degree to which the top slides into the bottom, for the purposesnoted above.

With the display stand fully loaded with a predetermined selection ofbagged items, such as toys, the entire stand is then packaged forshipment. It is contemplated that a variety of different selections oftoys, for example, will be available to the retailer so that he needonly order a particular unit of merchandise to receive a completedisposable display stand containing a desired selection of ready-mounteditems for sale. In packaging of the filled stand for shipment, there maybe employed a cardboard carton of rectangular configuration having aninterior side dimension equal to the total width of a panel 13 of thestand. The side Walls of the carton will thus engage the vertical sideedges of the panels and the outwardly turned bottom edge of each panel.Consequently, the carton will be reinforced internally by the displaystand itself, and the bagged items carried by the stand will be disposedin the spaces-between the carton wall and the display stand panels. Eventhough the carton wall then receives a blow or is dented in some manner,same will not injure the sale items carried by the stand.

The packaged stand and items carried thereby is then shipped to theretailer who removes the package carton, as by a perforated stripallowing the carton to be opened away from the stand resting upon itsbase. The retailer then raises the telescoping top 12 and presses thetabs 51 inwardly so that upon release of the top it rests upon thesetabs in extended position. There is thus provided a complete displayunit containing sale items, such as toys or the like, in plastic bagswith appropriate advertising markings andsale prices for completeself-service selling.

Although it is possible to refill the stand by adding further bagsthereto, it is not necessary to do so, for upon sale of a substantialamount of the items carried by the stand the few remaining may beremoved and the entire stand destroyed, as by burning. -The fewremaining bagged items may then be mounted upon the next standdelivered, at least after some few sales have been made therefrom. Itwill be seen that to the retail merchandiser thenecessity of handling,marking, and inventorying sale items is entirely removed by the presentinvention. Furthermore, there is afforded to the retail outlet apleasing display of sale items, such as toys, with full manufacturersadvertising and marking thereon. The panels of the stand may, of course,be covered, marked, or otherwise treated to maximize saleability of theitems carried thereon. It is, of course, in the best interests of theone providing the stand to maximize saleability of the items carried bythe stand, and consequently the retailer may expect the very best typeof advertising display, normally not available to the retailer becauseof costs.

It is particularly emphasized that the stand of this invention isintended to be disposable, and consequently to be formed of inexpensivematerials. The use of corrugated cardboard stapled together fufills thisrequirement. The hooks 56 may beformed extremely inexpensively fromlightweight plastic, and the overall stand provides requisite rigidityand structural strength to hold a very substantial number of displayitems that mayin the aggregate have a considerable weight. The presentinvention does, in fact, open up an entirely new field of merchandising,wherein the manufacturer is placed in the position of directlyexhibiting his wares through a retailer without the necessity of retailhandling, or the like, and with the complete elimination of variousmiddlemen. While certain aspects of this type of merchandise have beenpreviously exploited, a wide variety of items have not lent themselvesto previously available procedures. The improved disposable displaystand of the present invention can accommodate any type of bagged itemwhich is not too perishable, and is particularly applicable to the saleof toys. The ready availability of reasonably priced toys to the generalpublic, particularly in locations frequented by parents and childrenalike, does substantially increase the total volume of sales of toys.The present invention accomplishes the foregoing, and is thus desirablefrom 'both the viewpoint of the manufacturer and the retailer.

Although the present invention has been described above with respect toa single, preferred embodiment of the invention with certain alternativeconfigurations pointed out, it is not intended that the invention belimited by the terms of the description or illustration. Reference ismade to the appended claims for a precise delineation of the true scopeof this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A disposable display stand comprising four rectangular panels oflightweight material, each of said panels having a single narrowvertical edge portion folded to form an edge wall extending outwardly,said panels being verticallydisposed with the edge wall of each abuttingthe back of an adjacent panel along one edge thereof to form a hollow,rectangular stand, and means securing said panels together at leastalong the edge walls thereof to form a rigid display structure adaptedto hold items for display.

2. A stand as set forth in claim 1, further defined by each of saidpanels having a bottom edge portion folded outwardly and fixed to anadjacent panel. in such position.

3. A stand as set *forth in claim 1, further defined by a telescopingtop unit dimensioned to slip-fit into the volume surrounded by saidconnected panels, and at least some of said panels having push tabsextendable into the interior of the stand adjacent the top thereofforholding said top unit in vertically extended position.

4. A disposable display stand comprising four vertical panels disposedin offset perpendicular relation to each other with each panel abuttingthe back of the next adjacent panela short distance from a vertical edgethereof, means securing said panel together to define a rectangularupright stand with a difierent panel edge extending from each cornerthereof, each of said panels having a bottom edge portion extendingoutwardly of the stand and secured in substantially perpendicularrelation to the remainder of the panel, and means fixing said bottomedge portions in said perpendicular relation for defining afree-standing, upright stand adapted to'carry display items.

5. A stand as set forth in claim 4, further defined by each of saidpanels being a separate sheet of corrugated cardboard having thecorrugations laterally thereacross, each panel being folded along avertical line adjacent one edge to form an edge wall lying against theback ofan adjacent panel and secured thereto, each of said panels beingfolded outwardly along a horizontal line adjacent the bottom edge toform said bottom edge portion of the same width as the width of saidedge wall, and a corner tab of each panel defined by said vertical andhorizontal fold lines being partially cut free from the remainder andfolded into contact with other panel portions with means securing thecorner tab thereto for strengthening of the stand.

6. A stand as set forth in claim 5, further defined by said corner tabbeing separated from said edge wall for extension under the bottom edgeportion of the adjacent panel, and means attaching together. said cornertab and said bottom edge portion of the adjacent panel.

7. A stand as set forth in claim 5, further defined by said corner tabbeing separated from'said floor portion and being folded up under sameand secured thereto.

8. A stand as set forth in .claim 5, further defined by said corner tabbeing separated from said floor portion and "being folded back from saidedge wall in extension beneath the door portion of the adjacent paneland secured thereto.

9. A disposable display stand comprising four flat panels disposed inperpendicular relationship to adjacent panels to define a hollowrectangle, each of said panels extending outwardly beyond the adjacentpanel on one side and being vertically folded outwardly along the otherside to 'forma narrow vertical wall lying flat against the back of theadjacent panel, staples securing said panels together along contactingsides thereof, each of said panels having the bottom edge foldedoutwardly the same distance as said vertical wall thereof to form afloor portion, each of said panels having a plurality of aperturestherein forreceiving hook means adapted to carry items for display, eachof said panels having partial cut-out portions adapted to be bentinwardly of the stand, and a telescoping top unit dimensioned to fit,into the stand defined by said panels and to rest upon the inwardlybent partial cut-outportions of said panels to remain in upwardlygtelescoped position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 623,594 4/1899Burt 31242 1,222,753 4/ 1917 Gareau 229-14 1,657,939 1/1928 Rockwell248-73 2,231,982 2/1941 Zalkind 2 2914 2,240,282 4/1941 Beaman 248l74 1FOREIGN PATENTS 892,834 2/ 1962 Great Britain.

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Examiner.

1. A DISPOSABLE DISPLAY STAND COMPRISING FOUR RECTANGULAR PANELS OFLIGHTWEIGHT MATERIAL, EACH OF SAID PANELS HAVING A SINGLE NARROWVERTICAL EDGE PORTION FOLED TO FORM AN EDGE WALL EXTENDING OUTWARDLY,SAID PANELS BEING VERTICALLY DISPOSED WITH THE EDGE WALL OF EACHABUTTING THE BACK OF AN ADJACENT PANEL ALONG ONE EDGE THEREOF TO